Issue - meetings

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Lorna Reith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

The Committee received a briefing and responses to questions from the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

The Committee discussed the Heartlands School, and asked whether further new schools would be needed in the borough in future. It was reported that the Council was looking at the implications of the information provided by national statistics on school provision in the borough in the next 10 years.

The Committee noted that the Joint Area Review (JAR) action plan had been submitted. In response to the question of how the Secretary of State’s response would be communicated once received, it was reported that the Council would take guidance from the Secretary of State on this. The Committee suggested that a briefing session on the changes being made as a result of the JAR action plan would be useful, and it was agreed that this would be arranged when an appropriate time was identified. Committee members were encouraged to consider the training that they would find useful in order to support their Overview and Scrutiny duties.

The Committee requested that an organogram of the bodies responsible for safeguarding children be circulated. It was also requested that details of the potential challenges to the delivery of the BSF programme be provided.

The Committee discussed the issue of apprenticeships, and expressed concern that it was not possible to restrict these to Haringey residents. It was emphasised that it was important to ensure that residents of the borough were not losing out on opportunities.

The Committee noted that the Corporate Parenting Board was an advisory body to the Cabinet, and requested that the terms of reference of the Board be circulated. It was noted that a response was awaited to the suggestions made and issues raised by Members in relation to the terms of reference of the Safeguarding Board, and it was agreed that the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People would pass these concerns on to the members of the Board for consideration.

RESOLVED

That the briefing and answers to questions be noted.